Foster, Stephen
Partner
Legal Expertise
Litigation involving insurance, real estate and construction disputes.
Industry Focus
Insurance, real estate, construction
Key Professional Accomplishments
* Acted as private counsel for owners of nightclub in a multimillion dollar premises liability suit being defended by appointed defense counsel and with policy limits of $300,000. After denying insureds’ Cumis counsel, carrier finally acknowledged insureds’ “superior right” to control defense, paid all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by clients over the course of our 3 year involvement, and paid $2.4 million to resolve the third party claim. Currently attempting to informally resolve the insureds’ claim for bad faith.
* Successfully represented owner of high-end automobile with lemon law claim against manufacturer, recovering approximately 85% of purchase price plus taxes and license fees after 5 years of ownership and approximately 70,000 miles of use.
* Represented Board Member in dispute with complex insurance issues involving errors and omissions policy and directors and officers policy.
* Represent numerous contractors and subcontractors in various dealings with insurance companies including tendering of claims, coverage disputes, premium disputes, reimbursement demands, and other defense related issues.
* Assisted with representation of prominent life insurance company in two "vanishing premium" cases, obtaining summary judgment and a dismissal after demurrer which was upheld on appeal.
* Represented corporation in multiple cases involving construction defects, property damage, mechanics liens, and complex insurance coverage issues, resulting in favorable six figure settlements for the client.
* Member of litigation team representing one of the world's leading insurance providers in an action to rescind over $100 million in fraudulently induced policies.
* Represented insureds and third party claimants in complex coverage disputes.
* Represented large California law firm in defending claims of legal malpractice and ethical violations.
Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations
* American County Bar Association
* Los Angeles County Bar Association
Court Admissions
* California, 2001
* USDC, Central District of California, 2001
* USDC, Southern District of California, 2003
Education
Southwestern Law School, J.D., 2000
Loyola Marymount University, B.A., 1995
